On Monday, June 20, 2016, the Union met with RGV Sector management in order to discuss the implementation of the Shift Bid MOU. The agreed-upon timeline for the implementation is as follows:
KIN Border Patrol Station (6-month rotation)
1st Rotational Period: October 2, 2016 through April 1, 2017
- Kingsville Border Patrol Station (KIN) will implement the Shift Bids on October 2, 2016.
- KIN employees will receive their initial bid sheets on August 7, 2016.
- Bid sheets will be due on August 21, 2016.
- Shift assignments for the 6-month shift bid covering Oct 2, 2016 – Apr 1, 2017, will be posted on September 6, 2016.
MCS Border Patrol Station (4-month rotation)
1st Rotational Period: October 2, 2016 through February 4, 2017
- McAllen Border Patrol Station (MCS) will implement the Shift Bids for on October 2, 2016.
- MCS employees will receive their initial bid sheets on August 7, 2016.
- Bid sheets will be due on August 21, 2016.
- Shift assignments for the 4-month shift bid covering Oct 2, 2016 – Feb 4, 2017, will be posted on September 6, 2016.
CCT / WSL / RGC / FLF / FTB / BRP Border Patrol Stations (3-month rotation)
1st Rotational Period: October 2, 2016 through January 7, 2017
- Corpus Christi (CCT) / Weslaco (WSL) / Rio Grande City (RGC) / Falfurrias (FLF) / Fort Brown (FTB) and Brownsville (BRP) stations will implement the shift bids on October 2, 2016.
- CCT / WSL / RGC / FLF / FTB / BRP employees will receive their initial bid sheets on August 7, 2016.
- Bid sheets will be due on August 21, 2016.
- Shift assignments for the 3-month shift bid covering Oct 2, 2016 – Jan 7, 2017, will be posted on September 6, 2016.
NOTES
In June of 2017, RGV Sector and Local 3307 will reassess the Shift Bid MOU and re-evaluate, discuss, and address any concerns which may arise.
There were rumors circulating throughout the sector that were addressed and resolved regarding the shift bid. The following points should clarify the issues and others that were brought to our attention:
- Shifts will be staffed based on seniority and the application of the MOU. In other words, there is no arbitrary number set that will dictate how many senior / junior agents can be assigned to shifts. All agents will be placed according to the MOU.
- Approved Annual Leave will not affect placement on a shift. All annual leave will remain at the current allowable levels for any given time period. Annual Leave will not be canceled due to the shift bid; however, in the event that management must temporarily backfill a position on a shift due to annual leave, solicitations will be made for a change of shift and offered to volunteers, prior to any mandated changes to cover the loss of personnel due to approved annual leave.
- Canine Handlers and EMT’s will be designated as agents with specialized training in accordance with Section VI (E) of the MOU, which states in pertinent part, “Management reserves the right to place agents with specialized training, skills, and certifications where needed, based on the needs of the Agency.”
- Shift swaps will continue to be granted in accordance with the CBA (nothing changes). Section IV (E) of the MOU states, “Shift swaps may be requested at any time, consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.”
- The shift bid process will be managed by three employees from each station participating in the shift bid.
- 1 Management Official
- 1 Union Official
- 1 DMT Member